"And the thunder glorifies Him with His praise, and the angels [too] from His fear," meaning: and the angels also glorify Him with His praise out of their fear of Him.

Al-Kalbi said: It is an angel whose name is: Al-Ra'd (the Thunder), and the sound that is heard is his glorification; he uses it to gather the clouds together, then drives them wherever he is commanded.

Yahya said: I heard some of them say: The lightning is a glimpse that the angel who drives the clouds casts towards the earth.

"And He sends the thunderbolts," which is fire that descends from the clouds; in the exegesis of Al-Suddi.

Yahya said: Some of them said: The angel drives the clouds with a whip of fire, and perhaps the whip breaks; that is the thunderbolt.

"And He strikes with them whom He wills." Abdullah ibn Abi Zakariyya said: It reached me that whoever hears the thunder and says: "Glory be to my Lord and with His praise," a thunderbolt will not strike him.

"And they dispute about Allah," meaning: the polytheists dispute with the Prophet of Allah; i.e., they contend with him regarding their worship of idols instead of Allah. "And He is severe in strength," Mujahid said: meaning: power.

Muhammad said: It is said: I challenged him to a trial of strength (mihalan) when you contend with him until it becomes clear which of you is stronger.